News

A Snorkeling Biologist Just Captured Something Never Before Photographed in a Northern California Creek

Photo via NPS / Michael Reichmuth A fish biologist got more than he bargained for during a routine snorkel survey…

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California Condors Nest in Northern California Redwoods for the First Time in a Century

Photo via the Yurok Tribe Two young California condors are making history deep in Northern California’s redwood country. Program officials…

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Chinook Salmon Hatch in Upper Klamath Basin for First Time in Over a Century

For the first time in more than a century, young Chinook salmon are swimming in the tributaries of Upper Klamath…

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Vacation Rental Host Accused of Secretly Filming Guests Near Yosemite

Authorities in Madera County want to hear from anyone who booked a stay at a short-term rental on Granite Butte…

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Kayaker Dies After Capsizing on Tomales Bay Near Point Reyes

A weekend kayaking outing on Tomales Bay ended in tragedy after a 37-year-old Los Angeles woman died when her kayak…

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A Splitboarder’s Rough Day Above 12,000 Feet on Mount Shasta Ended With a Team Rescue

A splitboarder’s backcountry session on Mount Shasta took a serious turn on March 20 when altitude sickness left him stranded…

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Rangers Arrest Yosmite Base Jumper for Instagram Video. He Claims its AI.

A Southern California man is facing federal charges after rangers say he illegally BASE jumped inside Yosemite National Park and…

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Pilot Killed in Plane Crash Near Olympic Valley While Approaching Truckee Tahoe Airport

A pilot was killed Sunday evening when a small plane crashed in remote, rugged terrain southwest of Olympic Valley while…

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The Numbers Behind Northern California’s Historic March Heat Wave

Northern California just lived through a heat wave that had no business showing up in March. Sacramento broke daily high…

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19-Year-Old Petaluma Man Found Dead in the Truckee River After Multi-Day Search

A 19-year-old Petaluma man who disappeared while swimming in the Truckee River near Floriston on Saturday has been found dead…

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Skunk Train Guides Stumbled Upon a Missing Hiker in the Redwoods and Helped Save Her Life

A woman who had been missing for several days in the redwood forest near Camp Noyo was rescued on March…

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Sierra Snowmelt Is Running Two Months Early and Northern California Water Managers Are Racing to Keep Up

Record-breaking March heat is melting California’s Sierra snowpack at a rate of roughly 1% per day, pushing runoff into reservoirs…

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Gray Whale Found Dead Near the Golden Gate Bridge Was Likely Struck by a Ship

A 42-foot gray whale found floating in San Francisco Bay near the Golden Gate Bridge earlier this week was likely…

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A 300-Mile Trail Through Northern California’s Redwoods Is One Step Closer to Reality

One of the most ambitious trail projects in the country just took a major step forward. The Great Redwood Trail…

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Yosemite’s Attendance Climbed in 2025 and Dropping Reservations Could Send 2026 Even Higher

Yosemite National Park welcomed more than 4.2 million visitors in 2025, a jump of 156,000 over the previous year and…

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Dead Seabirds Washing Up on Point Reyes Beaches Linked to Avian Influenza

Avian influenza appears to have made its way to Point Reyes National Seashore after a sharp uptick in dead seabirds…

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The Push to Raise Shasta Dam Just Got $40 Million in Federal Backing

The federal government is putting $40 million toward early planning efforts to raise Shasta Dam, reigniting a debate that has…

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Crystal Cave at Sequoia National Park Is Open Again and Tickets Are on Sale Now

One of California’s most spectacular underground experiences is gearing up for another season. Crystal Cave at Sequoia National Park opens…

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Lake Tahoe’s Snow Is Melting So Fast It Could Set a Historic Low in Two Weeks

Lake Tahoe’s snowpack is vanishing at a startling pace, and the consequences could stretch well beyond ski season. State officials…

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Popular Tahoe Ski Resort Announces Early Closure Due to Lack of Snow

Sierra-at-Tahoe is pulling the plug on its 79th season this Sunday, wrapping things up as warm weather and a snowless…

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Two Northern California Ski Resorts Call It Quits as Dismal Snow Season Takes Its Toll

A lackluster winter has caught up with two California ski areas, both of which are wrapping up operations well ahead…

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Warm Weather Set to Melt Yosemite Snow and Boost Waterfalls

Yosemite National Park is shifting quickly from winter to spring, with temperatures expected to climb into the 80s this week…

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Lake Tahoe License Plates Fund $1.2 Million in New Basin Projects

Specialty Lake Tahoe license plates in Nevada are doing more than decorating cars. The program recently generated $1.2 million in…

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California Reviewing Program That Compensates Ranchers for Wolf Losses

As gray wolves continue to reclaim territory across Northern California, state wildlife officials are taking a closer look at a…

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El Niño Could Return This Summer. Here’s What It Might Mean for California.

A familiar climate pattern that can reshape weather around the world may soon return. New forecasts show that El Niño…

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Bird Flu Outbreak at Popular California Wildlife Destination Spreads to Sea Otter and Sea Lion

A recent outbreak of avian influenza along the Northern California coast is now affecting multiple marine species, raising new concerns…

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Two Young Climbers Rescued on Mount Shasta After 700-Foot Fall

Two young climbers were rescued from high on Mount Shasta earlier this week after a fall left one of them…

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Study Finds Dangerous Fire Weather Is Increasing, Raising Concerns for Northern California

A new scientific study suggests the type of weather that fuels large, fast-moving wildfires is becoming far more common around…

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Scientists Gather at Lake Tahoe to Protect the World’s Largest Trout

Researchers from across the globe recently met in the Lake Tahoe region to focus on an unusual conservation mission: protecting…

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Will Mt. Shasta Ski Park Reopen Before the Season Ends?

After a winter filled with ups and downs, a big question is beginning to circulate among Northern California skiers: Will…

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Lake Oroville Releases Reduced as Officials Focus on Conserving Water

With drier weather returning to Northern California, state water officials are dialing back releases from Lake Oroville in an effort…

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Sierra Snowpack Running Critically Low and Reservoir Water Levels May Not Last the Summer

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) wrapped up its late-February snow survey with mixed results: conditions had improved slightly…

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California Pays Out $3.5 Million to Ranchers as Gray Wolves Continue Their Return

As gray wolves reclaim territory across Northern California, the state has now distributed more than $3.5 million to livestock producers…

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California’s National Parks Expected to See Huge Crowds in 2026

If you’re planning a trip to a national park in California this year, expect company. A new report from the…

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Debate Erupts After ‘Human Compost’ Used on Land Near San Joaquin River

A proposal to ban a form of human composting in Fresno County is stirring debate after soil created from human…

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Library of Congress Acquires One of the Earliest Known Drawings of Yosemite Valley

Photo via Shawn Miller/Library of Congress Long before Yosemite became one of the nation’s most famous national parks—or photographers like…

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Mendocino Coast State Parks Hosting Free Whale Festival Events Throughout March

Each March, the Mendocino Coast becomes one of the best places in Northern California to watch gray whales migrate north—and…

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Interactive Map Reveals Where to Find California’s Wildflower Superblooms in 2026

As California gears up for what could be its most vibrant wildflower season in years, Hipcamp has rolled out a…

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Big Basin Redwoods State Park Announces Massive Expansion

California’s oldest state park just got bigger. California State Parks announced the permanent addition of 153 acres known as the…

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State Invests $10 Million in Salmon Restoration Projects Across Northern California

California is doubling down on salmon recovery, approving millions in new funding aimed at restoring rivers and rebuilding fish habitat…

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Survivors Recall the Terrifying Scene that Led to California’s Deadliest Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe

In interviews with the The New York Times, survivors Anton Auzans and Jim Hamilton described the chaos and heartbreak of…

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Total Lunar Eclipse Will Create Dramatic Blood Moon Over Northern California this Week

Set your alarm clock, Northern California. A “blood moon” is about to light up the early morning sky. In the…

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One of California’s Most Elusive Animals Just Showed Up on a Tahoe Trail Cam

One of California’s rarest wild residents has quietly returned to the Lake Tahoe Basin. The California Department of Fish and…

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Bird Flu Outbreak Kills Dozens of Seals at Popular California Wildlife Destination

A rare and deadly strain of bird flu has struck one of California’s most iconic wildlife destinations. Officials have temporarily…

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California Unveils Ambitious Overhaul of Water Planning for 2028

California is charting a new course for its water future as state officials roll out the California Water Plan 2028,…

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Mendocino County Approves $500K in Anticipation of Eel River Dam Removal

Mendocino County is setting aside half a million dollars as the future of the Potter Valley Project comes into sharper…

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Sierra Snowpack Sits at 47% of Average as Season Enters Final Stretch

California’s “frozen reservoir” just got a modest boost, but it’s still playing catch-up. During its third survey of the season…

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California Lawmakers Explore Plan to Reintroduce Grizzly Bears

For more than a century, California’s most iconic animal has existed only as a symbol on the state flag. Now,…

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Forest Service to Conduct Prescribed Burns Near Shasta Lake this Week

Fire crews will be lighting prescribed burns in the Shasta Lake area this week as part of ongoing wildfire prevention…

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Warm Atmospheric River to Drench Northern California This Week

Another round of wet weather is set to sweep across Northern California early this week, with rain lingering through early…

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9 Identified in Deadliest Avalanche in California History Near Tahoe

Northern California’s mountain community is mourning after the deadliest avalanche in state history claimed nine lives near Castle Peak, just…

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Northern California’s Largest Reservoirs Climb After Back-to-Back Winter Storms

After a week of pounding rain and Sierra snow, Northern California’s biggest reservoirs are ticking upward. The back-to-back winter systems…

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Sierra-at-Tahoe Closes Again as Powerful Tahoe Storm Dumps More Than 5 Feet of Snow

As a massive Sierra storm continues to hammer the Lake Tahoe region, Sierra-at-Tahoe is forced to remain closed on February…

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Yosemite Scraps Reservation Requirements for 2026

Visitors heading to Yosemite National Park in 2026 won’t need to secure a timed entry reservation. Park officials announced Wednesday…

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8 Confirmed Dead, 1 Still Missing After Deadly Tahoe Avalanche Near Castle Peak

Eight people have been confirmed dead and one remains missing following Tuesday’s devastating avalanche near Castle Peak, authorities announced Wednesday.…

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I-80 Westbound Reopens With Chain Controls as More Snow Targets Donner Pass

It may look like a postcard morning over Donner Summit, but winter driving conditions are still very real. According to…

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Hundreds of Salmon Found Dead in Yuba River After Infrastructure Failure

A sudden equipment failure at the Yuba Water Agency’s New Colgate Powerhouse has left hundreds, and possibly thousands, of young…

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Tahoe Avalanche Could Become One of California’s Deadliest Backcountry Disasters

As search crews continue working through brutal storm conditions near Castle Peak, the scale of the unfolding tragedy is coming…

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Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort Closes After 5+ Feet of Snow From Massive Storm

Another Sierra resort is pressing pause as this week’s powerful winter storm continues to hammer the mountains. Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort announced…

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6 Survivors Rescued in Tahoe Avalanche, 9 Remain Unaccounted For

Rescue crews successfully reached six skiers Tuesday night following the avalanche near Castle Peak in Lake Tahoe, but the search…

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Guiding Outfit Releases Statement as 10 Skiers Remain Missing Near Tahoe

As rescue operations continue near Castle Peak outside Truckee, the guiding company involved has issued a public statement regarding the…

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Yuba River Contaminated by Oil Spill Following Penstock Rupture

Crews are working to contain oil and debris in the Yuba River following a major infrastructure failure at the New…

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U.S. 395 Closed for 90 Miles in Eastern Sierra Amid Whiteout Storm

A massive stretch of U.S. 395 is shut down in the Eastern Sierra as a powerful winter storm creates dangerous…

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10 Skiers Missing After Avalanche Engulfs Guided Ski Group Near Tahoe

A backcountry avalanche near Castle Peak outside Truckee has triggered a major rescue response amid one of the most powerful…

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Yosemite Firefall is ‘Very Unlikely’ as Storm Blankets the Region

If you were hoping to catch Yosemite’s famous Firefall this week, you may be out of luck. Park officials say…

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Wildlife Officials Offering Rare Spring Elk Hunts in Northern California

Hunters looking for a unique opportunity on the North Coast now have their shot. The California Department of Fish and…

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Snowfall Totals in the Sierra are STAGGERING as the Storm Continues to Deliver

Photo via Palisades Tahoe If you’ve glanced at a snow stake photo this week, you already know — the Sierra…

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Avalanche Risk Surges as Winter Storm Pounds the Sierra

As a severe winter storm continues to hammer the Sierra with heavy snow and strong winds, the Sierra Avalanche Center…

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Mammoth Mountain Closes as Snowstorm SLAMS the Sierra

The winter storm hammering much of the Sierra has forced Mammoth Mountain to shut down operations Tuesday, Feb. 17. Resort…

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Interstate 80 Closes Over Donner Summit at Blizzard Slams the Sierra

A powerful Sierra storm is bringing travel to a standstill Tuesday morning. According to Caltrans, westbound I-80 is closed at…

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Mt. Shasta Ski Park Back in Action Following Weekend Storm

Good news for Northern California skiers: Mt. Shasta Ski Park is back. Resort operators announced Monday that the mountain will…

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Yosemite Braces for Up to 7 Feet of Snow in Major Sierra Storm

A powerful winter system is lining up to slam the Sierra, and Yosemite National Park is squarely in the crosshairs.…

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Gray Wolf Tracked in Los Angeles County for First Time in 100 Years

A young gray wolf has pushed into new territory, and possibly into the history books. State wildlife officials say a…

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Yosemite’s Famed Firefall Has Arrived. Here’s Everything You Need to Know.

Photo by Leo_Visions For a brief stretch in February, Yosemite National Park turns into one of the most photographed places…

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Weed’s Iconic Totem Pole Knocked Down in Late-Night Crash

A longtime roadside landmark in the Siskiyou County city of Weed has been knocked down after a late-night crash. Just…

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This NorCal City Just Topped California’s Best Places to Live List

A new statewide ranking has named Folsom the best place to live in California, with several other Sacramento-area cities also…

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26-Year-Old Skier Dies After Accident on Advanced Run at Tahoe Ski Resort

A Southern California man has died after a skiing accident at Northstar California Resort near Truckee, according to resort and…

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Washoe Tribe Secures Historic 10,274-Acre Land Return North of Lake Tahoe

Photo via Elizabeth Carmel A major piece of the northern Sierra is returning to Washoe stewardship. The Waší·šiw Land Trust…

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California Farmers Ask Trump to Raise Shasta Dam

Debate over expanding Shasta Dam is heating up again. On Monday, a coalition of Central Valley farmers sent a letter…

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Tahoe’s Snow Drought Ends This Week With Up to 18 Inches in the Forecast

After a long stretch of dry skies around Lake Tahoe, winter is finally clocking back in. Forecasters say a series…

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Wet Weather Returns to Northern California as Winter Storms Line Up

After weeks of mostly dry and mild conditions, Northern California is finally seeing winter make a comeback. Meteorologists say a…

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California Biologists Successfully GPS-Collar One of North America’s Rarest Mammals

California wildlife biologists have reached a major milestone in the effort to protect one of North America’s rarest mammals: the…

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Skier Dies After Fall on Expert Terrain at Mammoth Mountain

A skier has died following a serious accident on a steep, expert-only run at Mammoth Mountain, resort officials confirmed. According…

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Gray Wolf Dies During State Tracking Operation in Northern California

A female gray wolf from Northern California’s Harvey pack has died after being captured by state wildlife officials during an…

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More Than 10,000 Salmon Found Their Way Back to This California River

Photo via EBMUD More than 10,000 Chinook salmon made the long journey home this year, returning from the Pacific Ocean…

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Tahoe Snowpack Slips to Just 60% After Dry January

After a promising start to winter, the snow picture around Lake Tahoe has taken a sharp turn and not in…

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The Wolf Tracked in Truckee Made an Extraordinary Journey

A gray wolf recently tracked near Truckee did not simply wander into town. It completed an extraordinary journey from Lassen…

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Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Fully Opens in Humboldt

Commercial Dungeness crab fishing officially opened in Humboldt County on January 30, marking the final reopening of California’s commercial crab…

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Truckee Residents Alerted After Wolf Activity Recorded Nearby

Wolf activity was recorded in the Truckee area on Sunday, prompting a community awareness notice from the Truckee Police Department.…

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Whale Watchers Witness Extremely Rare ‘Tail Walking’ Dolphin in Monterey Bay

Whale watchers off the California Coast recently witnessed something few people ever see at sea. During a recent trip in…

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California’s Snowpack is Dwindling as Storms Fail to Arrive

California’s snowpack has taken a noticeable step backward as the heart of winter slips by with little help from new…

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When Will the Next Storm Hit California? The Forecast is Grim.

California’s final full month of winter is starting off dry, and there are few signs of a meaningful pattern change…

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California’s Coastal Monarch Butterflies Are on the Brink of Extinction, Scientists Warn

California’s coastal monarch butterflies are slipping closer to the brink, and the latest numbers offer little comfort. A new annual…

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Eel River Dam Sees Highest Chinook Salmon Count in 13 Years

Photo via Friends of the Eel River Chinook salmon are showing encouraging signs of life in the Eel River, and…

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Rare Weasel-Like Mammal Spotted in Northern California Forests During New Study

Photo via Oregon State University The Pacific Northwest has no shortage of charismatic wildlife, but one of its cutest residents…

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Northern California Dominates List of America’s Most Romantic Glamping Stays

Private Yurts in Nevada City ranked 2nd nationally in Hipcamp’s rankings. Photo via Hipcamp. Northern California is officially winning Valentine’s…

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We Now Know Who Bought That Iconic $42 Million Lake Tahoe Mansion

After more than a month of speculation, the mystery buyer behind one of Lake Tahoe’s most infamous lakefront listings has…

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The Coyote That Swam to Alcatraz Appears to Be Thriving

A coyote that stunned visitors by swimming across San Francisco Bay to Alcatraz Island earlier this month appears to be…

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Yosemite’s High-Country Ski Hut Returns After Extensive Rehabilitation

Yosemite National Park has reopened a beloved piece of its winter backcountry history just in time for snow season. The…

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Vandalism Strikes Iconic Area of Yosemite National Park

Photo via Ando Arakelyan Visitors to Yosemite National Park are once again calling out vandalism after graffiti appeared near one…

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